"Mr. Burns." Smithers said. "I have it, sir." He crossed the room his hands covered in a cloth.

"Excellent." the old man hummed. Smithers stood before his desk and finally removed the cloth unveiling a great green shine into the room. It was so bright it went even out the window." Most Excellent indeed." He chuckled darkly.

That's what brought Knuckles' attention to it. He knew that somewhere in this power plant he would find what he was looking for.

He glided in first over the security fences and parking lot before resting himself on one of the outer buildings. Then he took a back entrance making it less likely for him to be seen.

"Why with this. "Mr. Burns said. "I can-"

"Uh Mr. Burns, sir."

"Oh what is it?" the old man growled." Couldn't you see I was monologuing?!"

"Yes, sir. I know sir but look" He pointed to the camera. Burns leaned over with squinted eyes to view the camera. And on it they saw Knuckles." We have company."

Burns clutched the object in his hands.

"Do it Smithers."

"Yes, sir." He said. He pressed a big red button under the tv screen. At the same time he grabbed a microphone. "Attention all employees." It was heard by Lenny and Carl in breakroom, and homer in his work space." Your all free to leave for the day-"

"WHOO!" Homer cheered shooting his arms into the air.

"But with half a day's pay!"

"DOH!"

Knuckles meanwhile continued to navigate himself around the factory as quietly as he could. He would soon find that wouldn't be for much longer. Each and every step he took seemed to be leading him further and further into the unknown. But the only green glow he found was from the ooze of nuclear power.

Suddenly he heard a loud bang. Turning his head he saw big iron doors closing behind him. He turned on his heel and began running, the doors closing faster behind him.

Finally Knuckles escaped by sliding out of their reaches and back outside. As he did he came into the parking lot.

He slid out from one danger and into another, as a car ran right over him.

"DOH!" he heard a familiar sound. Knuckles quickly popped his head up to see a retreating bald figure in the back of a fleeing car.

"Thanks for the ride Lenny!" Homer said waving to his fleeing friend. Then he walked across his lawn and towards his front door, whistling as he did.

But then he heard something. Something coming from the bushes.

"Huh?" He said curiously. He turned and began walking towards the noise. Probably just the cat or dog still out." Come here boy, come here." He called as he reached one hand to open the bush.

But then a hand came flying back and punched him right in the face.

"OH!" Homer groaned as his head spun to the side. Another first came up and knocked him the other way." OH!" He yelled. Looking forward he saw Knuckles had returned for Round two." YOU!" He let out.

Knuckles charged head on and took Homer right to the ground. Knuckles stood over him drawing one fist back but Homer put up one hand to try and keep him at bay.

Then with one push Homer sent Knuckles onto his back. Homer quickly jumped to his feet and ran for the garage, punching in the code causing it to open.

The garage door shut behind him, cornering them in a smaller area.

"Alright little man. Your in my world now!" He turned and grabbed the first thing he could, a screw driver. Taking it and throwing it across the room and at Knuckles.

The Echidna ducked as he charged Homer. Simpson dodged a punch while he grabbed another weapon. A tire iron.

With both hands on it, Homer swung forward and hit Knuckles across the face. Then he swung back and hit him once more.

But Knuckles quickly jumped forward and punched Homer in the chin, knocking him off his feet and onto his back. He quickly moved in and stood over him.

Knuckles had one hand on Homer's shirt while the other was cocked back and ready for the final punch.

"DAD!" a voice cried out. And Knuckles turned to look in the doorway to see a little girl staring at them. He looked from her frightened face to the look of the man in his grasp.

Then he let go.

"I can't hit a man in front of his daughter." He said with a sigh. With one hand Homer reached back for the nearest item he could, a hammer.

"That makes ONE OF US!" Homer yelled." YAH!" He yelled as he swung forward and hit Knuckles in the head. But Knuckles shot out his hand to met the hammer wit his fist, breaking the object with a punch. In the aftermath Homer stood there stunned.

Knuckles went back to standing in his neutral position. while Homer cowered back Lisa stepped in.

"Thank you for not hurting my Dad." she said.

"We just... got off on the wrong foot is all." Knuckles answered. He looked to Homer." I'm sorry, if I hurt you." But Homer crossed his arms and pouted.

"Dad." Lisa stressed.

"Oh alright. I'm sorry I ran you over... and hit you against a mailbox...and drove you into the tire fire." With each word Knuckles was getting madder and madder.

"Okay, okay that's enough!" Lisa stopped him before the fight broke out again.

"See Dad." Lisa said turning to him." Isn't it great when people work out their problems."

"Yea. Say" He snapped his fingers." You know what always makes me feel better"

Before Knuckles knew it he was sitting at the kitchen table with Lisa and Homer

"ICE CREAM!" He yelled and quickly began eating. Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, even some flavors he had never heard of.

"Hehe." Lisa chuckled nervously. "Sorry about my Dad's. He's just alittle um... eccentric is all."

"So I've noticed." He responded looking as Homer stuffed his face.

"If you don't mind my asking, what are you?"

"My name is Knuckles." He answered." And I'm an echidna."

"But how did you get like that!" Homer pointed to him. Knuckles looked confused.

"I've always been like this."

"Were you made in a lab?" Lisa asked. Springfield had their share of scientist like Professor Frink to Dr. Nick who could have made a walking, talking animal.

"No. "He shook his head." I was born on Angel Island as the Last Guardian of the Master emerald."

"Hmh." Homer hummed." Master cookies."

"Not Cookie, Emerald! Emerald!" He slammed his fist on the table.

"If your it's guardian then why are you here? Did someone take it?"

"That's right. "He answered." It was shattered into pieces. And I have traveled far and wide to recover it. And my search has led me here. I was in the process of recovering it before your father..." He stopped to look up at Homer face covered in chocolate" Interrupted."

"Do you know where it might be?"

"I believe it's somewhere in your nuclear power plant." Lisa snapped her fingers.

"I'll bet Mr. Burns has it."

"Who?" Knuckles asked.

"Mr. Burns. A greedy, old man who lives only to make others miserable. It's his power plant that pollutes the earth. And if he has your emerald who knows what he plans to use it for." Knuckles stood up.

"That's not going to happen." Homer stood up as well.

"So Mr.Burns is up to no good, hm." Homer said rubbing his chin." And with all the weird stuff happening." " Knuckles raised an eyebrow at him." Something must be going on!" He proclaimed raising a fist into the air.

"You don't say." Knuckles commented.

"And this looks like a job for..." But before completely his sentence Homer just ran off. Stomping up the stairs and out of sight. Confused Knuckles looked to Lisa.

"What the..."

"Just give him a minute." The girl said looking at her watch. They heard stomping and grumbling from the ceiling, coming from the room above them. Along with a trademark "DOH!"

Knuckles rolled his eyes. By the time Homer's stomping was heard coming down the stairs both he and Bart had decided to take a seat on the couch.

"PIE MAN!" Homer proclaimed in the doorway. He wore completely blue, a picture of a pie on his chest, a metal tin to cover his face along with a red cape and underwear on.

Knuckles looked at him curiously.